Beth Chatto to the rescue

There's nothing like a new planting bed all ready and waiting to get one's creative juices flowing. In this case it's the area surrounding the weeping beech tree that we recently added to the garden. I got the curving space all planted just before cooler temps and rain arrived.

But rather than sitting back and enjoying the fact that everything will be settling in nicely, all I can think about is that I made the wrong plant choices. I hate what I did and am frustrated that I am so obsessed with my garden that picking the wrong plants can actually affect my mood. Sounds stupid but it's true. Maybe it's the result of creating so many pleasing plant combinations elsewhere in the garden, that this one's deficiencies are so evident and annoying. 

 

I decided the solution was to go back to my favorite gardeners to see what they had to say when feeling less than satisfied with their gardens. I turned to Beth Chatto's 1989 book, "The Green Tapestry," and never bothered to look further. Said Chatto:

"Gardeners rarely become bored, but even the most enthusiastic of us become exhausted from time to time — not just physically, but emotionally and mentally as well. We get frustrated, as does everyone else, by the weather, or pests, or whatever problem may be paramount. No one can live on a top-note all the time ... I believe it is working in and re-making the garden that gives the most enjoyment, far more than simply admiring the results. It can well be the digging and delving on a miserable winter's day that starts to lift your spirits, and then suddenly you may see a way to make something fresh, to bring new vitality into the garden."

I'm not sure if I have a new solution in mind, but Chatto has wisely reminded me of the value of re-thinking and re-making. In the garden, nothing is ever wasted if one can slow down enough to appreciate all the stages of creation.

Who — or what — do you turn to when you feel like your ideas and inspiration have all dried up?

Comments

[Lisa at Greenbow]

I often go back through my favorite books. I even go through my own journals where I paste pictures of favorite finds in magazines. Time usually brings new ideas to the fore. A visit to another garden will often kick start my muse.

[Altoon]

I'm so sorry to hear about your disappointment today; Beth Chatto's take on gardening is a very healthy one. I had a depressing garden day today because I saw that an animal, probably a woodchuck, had gotten into the vegetable garden and nibbled the tops of many of the pea plants. Nothing at all gets me down as much as animal damage in my vegetables. I set to work to try to deter a return: lowering the electric fence, putting out a Hav-a-Heart trap. I suppose the activity helps. What I try to do is put it all in the proper perspective, to remind myself that gardening is a pleasure, even if sometimes it fails (and I won't starve if my crops are shared with the wildlife). I look over my gardens, see the large beautiful picture, and feel better.

[LINDA from EACH LITTLE WORLD]

Thanks for the encouraging words. No animal problems so far this year which is a real plus. I am pulling books off my shelves, got some unfamiliar titles from the library and also plan to do as Lisa suggests and look back through my journals which I know have pictures pasted in. Sometimes I forget to take advantage of all these years of notetaking and compiling ideas in the journals!

[Frances]

What great and thoughtful advice from Ms. Chatto, a favorite of mine as well, Linda. Loved the pensive photo of you! It seems here that no plant is ever in the right spot, but the moving around of things with a new design is fun and cheaper than therapy. Sometimes it is simply the rain that brings us down, even though we know it is good for the garden. :-)
Frances

[Jean]

I understand what you were experiencing. I have been troubled by a new combo I put in a few months ago. It's still not blooming yet so I haven't made a hard and fast decision which way to go. Where do I go for inspiration? Mostly garden mags. Although blogs have inspired me unexpectedly many times. Good luck with your conundrum!

[Barbara H.]

I agree with all of the above and also really like the photo of you. It's a relief sometimes to know that someone who has done such a splendid job also has moments of feeling like failure has raised its ugly head. But is anything truly a failure? It just means that something is a little off - maybe it's an energy flow thing. Maybe the birch wants some time to itself? When something isn't working, it forces us to ask ourselves why - and to step back and allow the subconscious to grapple with the dynamics. Wow, didn't mean to be so long or philosophical. I know you'll find a great solution!

[Julie Siegel]

What a generous post Linda. The hardest part is being hard on ourselves for being effected. But maybe we should be grateful to feel strongly...Beth Chatto rocks! She was one if my strongest influences because she is reality-based about the landscape. For inspiration I have been going back to the great early 20th C landscape Midwesterners: Jens Jensen, O. C. Simonds and Alfred Caldwell.